Appliance stand with subsidiary member

ABSTRACT

A stand includes a lower member, an upper member spaced apart from the lower member, a pillar member that supports the lower and the upper members, and at least one subsidiary member selectively mountable to the upper member and/or the pillar member.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2006-32516, filed on Apr. 10, 2006, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an appliance stand for supporting appliances, such as a television (TV) set, an audio system, a decoration, etc.

2. Description of the Related Art

Generally, objects, such as an electronic appliance (e.g. a TV set), a source device that provides a signal to the electronic appliance, a decoration, etc., are placed and used on support apparatuses such as a cabinet, a stand, etc.

Recently, in order to function more efficiently, electronic appliances tend to have an increased weight and/or volume and a more complicated structure. Accordingly, the support apparatuses such as the cabinet, the stand, etc. should be designed to have enough strength to support the objects, i.e., the electronic appliances.

Electronic appliances, such as an image display apparatus (e.g., the TV set), an audio apparatus, etc., come to the market with various sizes according to the manufacturer and/or specifications of the manufacturer. Accordingly, various support apparatuses, e.g., stands are required to support electronic appliances of various sizes, respectively. That is, the sizes of these stands are based on the sizes of the electronic appliances.

Thus, conventional stands should be fabricated in sizes corresponding to the various sizes of the electronic appliances. Therefore, the amount of manufacturing equipment is increased and the manufacturing processes become troublesome and complicated, thereby increasing inventory-sales ratios as well as the manufacturing costs of the stands.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to one aspect of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a stand comprises a lower member, an upper member spaced apart from the lower member, a pillar member that supports the lower and the upper members, and at least one subsidiary member mountable to the upper member and/or the pillar member.

The at least one subsidiary member may comprise at least two subsidiary members, each of which has a different size.

The pillar member may comprise at least a pair of front pillars disposed to be movable left and right at front surfaces of the lower and the upper members, and a rear pillar assembly that supports rear surfaces of the lower and the upper members.

The at least a pair of front pillars may movable by a moving unit. The moving unit may comprise an upper supporting member that supports the upper member; upper moving members movable with respect to the upper supporting member each of said upper moving members having one side fixed to one of the at least a pair of front pillars, respectively; a lower supporting member that supports the lower member, and lower moving members movable with respect to the lower supporting member, each of said lower moving members having one side fixed to one of the at least a pair of front pillars, respectively.

A friction member may be interposed between the upper supporting member and the upper member.

A friction member may be interposed between the lower supporting member and the lower member.

Each end of the upper and the lower supporting members may have at least one fixing hole, and the upper and the lower moving members may have at least one fixing slit, the at least one fixing holes and the at least one fixing slits adjacent to and facing each other. Alternatively, each end of the upper and the lower moving members may have at least one fixing hole and each of the upper and the lower supporting members may have at least one fixing slit, the at least one fixing hole and the at least one fixing slit adjacent to and facing each other. Each of the upper and the lower moving members may be individually moved with respect to a corresponding one of the upper and the lower supporting members, and then fixed at the moved position by a fixing member.

The rear pillar assembly may comprise a pair of rear pillars spaced apart from each other.

The rear pillar assembly may further comprise a rear bracket fixed across the rear pillars.

The rear bracket may comprise at least one cable band and a cable receiving part.

The cable receiving part may comprise first and second bending ribs, and a hollow portion defined by the first and the second bending ribs, and the first and the second bending ribs have elasticity.

The rear bracket may further comprise at least one penetrated hole.

The rear bracket may further comprise an anti-falling member, one side of which is coupled thereto and the other side of which is coupled to an object placed on the upper member.

Alternatively, the rear pillar assembly may comprises a pair of rear pillars spaced apart to each other and a rear bracket disposed between the pair of rear pillars, the pair of rear pillars and the rear bracket being integrally formed.

The rear pillar assembly may further comprise at least one cable band and a cable receiving part.

At least one intermediate member may be disposed between the lower member and the upper member.

A supporting unit may support a front end and a rear end of the at least one intermediate member to the pillar member.

Friction members may be interposed between portions of the at least one intermediate member and the supporting unit, which are in contact with each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects and advantages of certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the exemplary embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view exemplifying an appliance stand in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the appliance stand of FIG. 1, exemplifying an upper portion of a rear side thereof;

FIG. 3 is another rear perspective view of the appliance stand of FIG. 1, exemplifying a lower portion of the rear side thereof;

FIG. 4 is a partially magnified perspective view of a portion IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a partially magnified perspective view of a portion V of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view taken along with line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along with line VII-VII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along with line VIII-VIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view taken along with line IX-IX of FIG. 2;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view exemplifying an example of the appliance stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted to support an object of minimum size;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view exemplifying another example of the stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted to support an object of middle size; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view exemplifying still another example of the stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted to support an object of maximum size.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention addresses at least the above problems and/or disadvantages and provides at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the exemplary embodiment is to provide an appliance stand that has a variable structure, thereby being easily adapted for objects of various sizes.

Another aspect of the exemplary embodiment is to provide an appliance stand that can maintain an elegant design.

Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The exemplary embodiments are described below in order to explain the present invention by referring to the figures.

FIGS. 1 through 7 show an appliance stand in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawings, the appliance stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a lower member 10, an upper member 20 spaced apart from the lower member 10, a pillar member 14, and subsidiary members 41 and 42.

The upper member 20 is supported by the pillar member 14, so that the upper member 20 is spaced apart above the lower member 10.

To change a supporting surface that supports an object T, T′, or T″ (see FIGS. 10 through 12), such as an electronic appliance, at least one subsidiary member, for example, two kinds of subsidiary members 41 and 42 can be selectively mounted to both sides of the upper member 20 and upper surfaces of front pillars 15 and 17 to be described later. Accordingly, the appliance stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention can be adapted to support the objects T, T′ and T″ of various sizes.

To be more specific, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, the two kinds of subsidiary members 41 and 42 are different sizes and, as shown in FIGS. 10 through 12, are selectively mounted according to the size of the object T, T′ or T″.

That is, as shown in FIG. 10, none of the subsidiary members 41 and 42 having different sizes can be mounted, or as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, one kind of subsidiary members 41 or 42 among the two kinds of subsidiary members 41 and 42 of different sizes can be selectively mounted according to the size of the object T′ or T″.

Also, although the one kind of subsidiary member 41 or 42 among the two kinds of subsidiary members 41 and 42 of different sizes is described as mounted to both sides of the upper member 20 and the upper surfaces of the front pillars 15 and 17, the subsidiary member 41 or 42 can be mounted only to either the both sides of the upper member 20 or the upper surfaces of the front pillars 15 and 17.

The subsidiary members 41 and 42 constructed as described above are detachably mounted by fixing parts 43, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, or other methods such as a fit coupling structure, etc.

The subsidiary members 41 and 42 and the upper member 20 are configured, such that upper surfaces thereof are positioned in the same plane or in planes having slightly different heights.

The pillar member 14 is disposed between the lower member 10 and the upper member 20. The pillar member 14 includes a pair of front pillars 15 and 17 vertically installed at front surfaces of the lower member 10 and the upper member 20, and a rear pillar assembly 100 that supports rear surfaces of the lower and the upper members 10 and 20.

The front pillars 15 and 17 are installed to be movable left and right, so that they can change a front width of the appliance stand according to the selective mounting of the one kind of subsidiary member 41 or 42 among the two kinds of subsidiary members 41 and 42.

Such a moving structure of the front pillars 15 and 17 is embodied by upper and lower supporting members 31 and 35 that support lower surfaces of the upper and the lower member 20 and 10, respectively, and a pair of upper moving members 32 and 33 and a pair of lower moving members 36 and 37 movable with respect to the upper and the lower supporting members 31 and 35, respectively, as shown in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, among the upper and the lower supporting members 31 and 35 and the pair of the upper moving members 32 and 33 and lower moving members 36 and 37, only the lower supporting member 35 and one, i.e., the lower moving member 37, of the lower moving members 36 and 37 are illustrated. The rest are not illustrated, but designated as parenthesized reference numerals, since they are symmetrically disposed to the upside, the downside, the left and the right.

The upper supporting member 31 supports a lower surface of a front portion of the upper member 20.

As shown in FIG. 8, a friction member 71, such as rubber, may be interposed between the upper supporting member 31 and the upper member 20, so that the upper member 20 is prevented from being freely moved up and down and left and right. Also, since the friction member 71 is formed of a material, such as the rubber, having elasticity and a friction property, the friction member 71 can absorb shocks imposed between the upper member 20 and the upper supporting member 31.

The lower supporting member 35 supports a lower surface of a front portion of the lower member 10.

Also, as shown in FIG. 9, a friction member 72, such as rubber, may be interposed between the lower supporting member 35 and the lower member 10, so that the lower member 10 is prevented from being moved up and down and left and right. Also, since the friction member 72 is formed of a material, such as the rubber, having elasticity and a friction property, the friction member 72 can absorb shocks imposed between the lower member 10 and the lower supporting member 35.

The upper moving members 32 and 33 are movable with respect to the upper supporting member 31 and are fixed to the front pillars 15 and 17, at front sides of the upper moving members 32 and 33, respectively.

The lower moving members 36 and 37 are movable with respect to the lower supporting member 35 and are fixed to the front pillars 15 and 17, respectively, at front sides of the lower moving members 36 and 37, respectively.

The upper moving members 32 and 33 and the lower moving members 36 and 37 are movable through hollow parts 31 b and 35 b formed at both ends of each of the upper and the lower supporting member 31 and 35, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For instance, the hollow parts 31 b and 35 b can be formed at the upper moving members 32 and 33 and the lower moving members 36 and 37. That is, if the upper moving members 32 and 33 and the lower moving members 36 and 37 can be relatively moved with respect to the upper and the lower supporting member 31 and 35, respectively, the hollow parts 31 b and 35 b will be formed at other positions or replaced by other shapes.

Also, each end of the upper supporting member 31 each has at least one first fixing hole 31 a, and the upper moving members 32 and 33 have at least one first and second fixing slits 32 a and 33 a, respectively. The first fixing holes 31 a and the first and the second fixing slits 32 a and 33 a and adjacent to and face each other. Each end of the lower supporting member 35 has at least one second fixing hole 35 a, and the lower moving members 36 and 37 have at least one third and fourth fixing slits 36 a and 37 a, respectively. The second fixing holes 35 a and the third and the fourth fixing slits 36 a and 37 a are adjacent to and face each other. Each of the upper and the lower moving members 32 and 33; and 36 and 37 are individually moved into a corresponding one of the upper and the lower supporting members 31 and 35, and then fixed at the moved position respectively by a fixing member 38, such a dowel pin or a bolt, which is inserted into a corresponding one of the first and the second fixing holes 31 a and 35 a and a corresponding one of the first, the second, the third, and the fourth fixing slits 32 a and 33 a; and 36 a and 37 a.

With such an individual movement and adjustment of the upper moving members 32 and 33 and the lower moving members 36 and 37 at both ends of the upper and the lower supporting members 31 and 35, the front pillars 15 and 17, to which the upper moving members 32 and 33 and the lower moving members 36 and 37 are respectively fixed, are moved left and right to adjust positions thereof.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rear pillar assembly 100 includes a pair of rear pillars 25 and 27, which are fixed in a spaced-apart relation to each other and to the rear surface of the lower members 10 and at a rear end of the upper members 20.

Also, a rear bracket 47 is fixed across opposite sides of the rear pillars 25 and 27, so as to reinforce supporting strength of the rear pillars 25 and 27. The rear bracket 47 can be provided with cable bands 51 and 52 that receive and fix wires or cables (not shown), which are led in and/or out from the object, e.g., an electronic appliance or a source apparatus (not shown), and a cable receiving part 55. As shown in FIG. 6, the cable receiving part 55 includes first and second bending ribs 56 and 57, and a hollow portion 58 defined by the first and the second bending ribs 56 and 57. The first and the second bending ribs 56 and 57 have an elastic force, so that free ends 56 a and 57 a thereof can be engaged with or be separated from each other

Also, the rear bracket 47 has a plurality of penetrated holes 47 a and 47 b through which the wires or cables, led in and/or out from the electronic appliance or the source apparatus, are passed.

At a side of the rear bracket 47 is installed an anti-falling member 48. The anti-falling member 48 at one side thereof is coupled to the rear bracket 47 and at the other side thereof is coupled to the electronic appliance, e.g., a massive electronic appliance such as a TV set, placed on the upper member 20, so that a falling of the massive electronic appliance by an external impact is prevented.

Alternatively, the rear pillar assembly 100 can be formed in a shape in which the pair of rear pillars 25 and 27 and the rear bracket 47 as described above are integrally formed, or formed in a single plate shape.

To more efficiently use a space between the lower member 10 and the upper member 20, at least one intermediate member 60 is disposed between the lower member 10 and the upper member 20.

As shown in FIG. 5, the intermediate member 60 is supported at both ends of the front portion thereof by a plurality of supporting protrusions 61 and 62, which are installed on inner surfaces of the front pillars 15 and 17. The supporting protrusions 61 and 62 have friction members 61 a and 62 a, such as rubber rings, formed to surround circumference surfaces thereof, respectively, so that a free movement of the front portion of the intermediate member 60 is prevented. Also, since the friction members 61 a and 62 a are formed of a material, such as rubber, having elasticity and a friction property, the friction members 61 a and 62 a can absorb shocks or impacts imposed on the intermediate member 60.

In addition, holder members 63 can be installed on the inner surfaces of the front pillars 15 and 17 on which the friction members 61 a and 62 a is installed. Both ends of the front portion of the intermediate member 60 are inserted into and supported by the holder members 63. The holder members 63 are fixed to the inner surfaces of the front pillars 15 and 17 through fixing parts 64.

Also, as shown in FIG. 7, the intermediate member 60 is supported at a rear portion thereof by at least one supporting member 66, which is fixed on inner surfaces of the rear pillars 25 and 27. A friction member 67, such as a rubber pad, is interposed between the supporting member 66 and the rear portion of the intermediate member 60, so that the rear portion of the intermediate member 60 is restrained from being freely moved.

The lower member 10 and/or the intermediate member 60 are formed of a material, such as a glass, having a relatively heavy weight, whereas the upper member 20 is formed of a material, such as a wood, having a relatively light weight.

FIGS. 10 through 12 exemplifies practical applications of the appliance stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 exemplifies an example of the appliance stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted to support the object T of minimum size. In this case, the front pillars 15 and 17 are shifted toward the center of the lower and the upper member 10 and 20 by a certain distance, so that the width of the appliance stand are shortened.

FIG. 11 exemplifies another example of the appliance stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted to support the object T′ of middle size. In this case, the front pillars 15 and 17 are shifted outside by a certain distance form the side portions of the lower and the upper member 10 and 20, respectively, so that the width of the appliance stand are relatively lengthened, as compared with that the length of the appliance stand shown in FIG. 10. Also, the subsidiary members 42 of small size shown in FIG. 1 are detachably mounted to the upper surfaces of the front pillars 15 and 17 and/or the left and right side surfaces of the upper member 20, and support the lower surfaces of the both side ends of the object T′.

FIG. 12 exemplifies still another example of the appliance stand in accordance with the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, which is adapted to support the object T″ of maximum size. In this case, the front pillars 15 and 17 are shifted outside by a maximum distance from the side portions of the lower and the upper member 10 and 20, respectively, so that the width of the appliance stand are maximally lengthened. Also, the subsidiary members 41 of large size shown in FIG. 1 are detachably mounted to the upper surfaces of the front pillars 15 and 17 and/or the left and right side surfaces of the upper member 20 and support the lower surfaces of the both side ends of the object T″.

Although a few embodiments of the present general invention have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents. 

1. A stand comprising: a lower member; an upper member spaced apart from the lower member; a pillar member that supports the lower and the upper members; and at least one subsidiary member mountable to the upper member and/or the pillar member.
 2. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one subsidiary member comprises a plurality of subsidiary members, each of which has a different size.
 3. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein the pillar member comprises: at least a pair of front pillars disposed to be movable left and right at front surfaces of the lower and the upper members; and a rear pillar assembly that supports rear surfaces of the lower and the upper members.
 4. The stand as claimed in claim 3, wherein the at least a pair of front pillars are movable by a moving unit, wherein the moving unit comprises: an upper supporting member that supports the upper member; upper moving members movable with respect to the upper supporting member, each of said upper moving members having one side fixed to one of the at least a pair of front pillars, respectively; a lower supporting member to support the lower member; and lower moving members movable with respect to the lower supporting member, each of said moving members having one side fixed to one of the at least a pair of front pillars, respectively.
 5. The stand as claimed in claim 4, wherein a friction member is interposed between the upper supporting member and the upper member.
 6. The stand as claimed in claim 4, wherein a friction member is interposed between the lower supporting member and the lower member.
 7. The stand as claimed in claim 4, wherein each end of the upper and the lower supporting members includes at least one fixing hole or at least one fixing slit, and each of the upper and the lower moving members includes at least one fixing hole or at least one fixing slit, the at least one fixing holes or the at least one fixing slits of the upper and lower supporting members being formed adjacent to and facing the at least one fixing holes or the at least one fixing slits of the upper and lower moving members, the upper and the lower supporting members including the at least one fixing hole when the upper and the lower moving members include the at least one fixing slit, and the upper and the lower supporting members including the at least one fixing slit when the upper and the lower moving members include the at least one fixing hole, wherein each of the upper and the lower moving members is individually moved with respect to a corresponding one of the upper and the lower supporting members, and then fixed at the moved position by a fixing member.
 8. The stand as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rear pillar assembly comprises a pair of rear pillars spaced apart from each other.
 9. The stand as claimed in claim 8, wherein the rear pillar assembly further comprises a rear bracket fixed across the pair of rear pillars.
 10. The stand as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rear bracket comprises at least one cable band and a cable receiving part.
 11. The stand as claimed in claim 10, wherein the cable receiving part comprises first and second bending ribs, and a hollow portion defined by the first and the second bending ribs, and the first and the second bending ribs have elasticity.
 12. The stand as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rear bracket comprises at least one penetrated hole.
 13. The stand as claimed in claim 9, wherein the rear bracket comprises an anti-falling member, one side of which is coupled thereto and the other side of which is coupled to an object placed on the upper member.
 14. The stand as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rear pillar assembly comprises a pair of rear pillars spaced apart from each other, and a rear bracket disposed between the pair of rear pillars, the pair of rear pillars and the rear bracket being integrally formed.
 15. The stand as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rear pillar assembly further comprises at least one cable band and a cable receiving part.
 16. The stand as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one intermediate member is disposed between the lower member and the upper member.
 17. The stand as claimed in claim 16, wherein a supporting unit supports a front end and a rear end of the at least one intermediate member to the pillar member.
 18. The stand as claimed in claim 17, wherein friction members are interposed between portions of the at least one intermediate member and the supporting unit, which are in contact with each other.
 19. A stand comprising: an upper member on which an object is placed; at least a pair of front pillars that supports the upper member at a predetermined height, the at least a pair of front pillars being movable left and right with respect to the upper member; at least one subsidiary member selectively mountable to the upper member and/or the at least a pair of front pillars; and a rear pillar assembly that supports a rear surface of the upper member.
 20. The stand as claimed in claim 19, wherein the at least one subsidiary member comprises at least two subsidiary members, each having a different size.
 21. The stand as claimed in claim 19, wherein the upper member has a supporting member installed thereto, wherein the at least a pair of front pillars has moving members installed thereto, the movable members being movable with respect to the supporting member, respectively.
 22. The stand as claimed in claim 19, further comprising a lower member spaced apart from the upper member, and an intermediate member disposed between the lower member and the upper member.
 23. The stand as claimed in claim 19, wherein the rear pillar assembly comprises: a pair of rear pillars that supports rear surfaces of the lower and the upper members; and a rear bracket disposed between the pair of rear pillars.
 24. A stand comprising: a lower member; an upper member spaced from the lower member; at least a pair of front pillars that supports front surfaces of the lower and the upper members; at least one subsidiary member selectively mountable to the upper member and/or the at least a pair of front pillars; a rear pillar assembly that supports rear surfaces of the lower and the upper members; and a moving unit that moves the at least a pair of front pillars left and right with respect to the lower and the upper members.
 25. The stand as claimed in claim 24, wherein the moving unit comprises: an upper supporting member installed to the upper member; at least a pair of upper moving members movable with respect to the upper supporting member, the at least a pair of upper moving members being fixed to the at least a pair of front pillars, respectively; a lower supporting member installed to the lower member; and at least a pair of lower moving members movable with respect to the lower supporting member, the at least a pair of lower moving members being fixed to the at least a pair of front pillars, respectively.
 26. The stand as claimed in claim 24, wherein at least one intermediate member is disposed between the lower member and the upper member.
 27. The stand as claimed in claim 24, wherein the rear pillar assembly comprises: a pair of rear pillars that supports the rear surfaces of the lower and the upper members; and a rear bracket disposed between the pair of rear pillars. 